Dickinson Room
Dickinson family, collector. Dickinson family artifacts: Guide.
Houghton Library, Harvard College Library
![[link]](http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.OIS:fas_shield)
Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138 USA
© 2007 The President and Fellows of Harvard College
Last update on 2007 August 17
Repository: Houghton Library, Harvard College Library,
Harvard University
Location: Emily Dickinson Room
Creator:
Dickinson family, collector.
Title: Dickinson family artifacts,
Date(s): circa
1785-1880.
Quantity:
66 items
Abstract: Furniture, jewelry, paintings, and other objects that belonged to the
Dickinson family of Amherst, Massachusetts. Some objects belonged to the poet Emily
Dickinson.
Descriptions prepared by Nan Wolverton, 2007.
Purchased from Alfred Leete Hampson with funds given by
Gilbert H. Montague, class of 1901, in happy memory of Amy Angell Collier Montague; received: 1950 May.
Some objects were given to the Library after 1950; this is noted with the
individual item entries.
The Dickinson Room
and many of these objects can be viewed by guided tour Fridays at 2:00 p.m.
Examination of objects in the Houghton Reading Room requires advance notice,
and the permission of the curator.
Images linked to this finding aid are intended for public access and
educational use. This material is owned and/or held by the Houghton Library, and is
provided solely for the purpose of teaching or individual research. Any other use,
including commercial reuse, mounting on other systems, or other forms of redistribution
requires the permission of the curator.
Dickinson
Family Artifacts (Dickinson Room). Houghton Library, Harvard University.
These objects, most of which are on permanent
display in the Dickinson Room at Houghton Library, were included as part of the
acquisition of the Dickinson papers in 1950. At the time of the purchase, the artifacts
were physically located at The Evergreens, many
displayed in "The Emily Room" created by Martha Dickinson Bianchi to memorialize her
aunt, the poet Emily Dickinson. Most of these artifacts were originally located at the Dickinson Homestead prior to its sale by Martha Dickinson Bianchi in 1916.
Organized into the following series:
- I. Ceramics
- A. Blue-and-white earthenware
- B. White porcelain
- II. Furniture
- III. Glass
- IV. Jewelry
- V. Paintings
- VI. Silver and silver plate
- VII. Textiles
These artifacts were selected by Alfred and Mary Hampson in consultation with
Library staff. The intent was and is to have on public display those objects most closely
associated with Emily Dickinson, and to evoke a sense of the time and place in which
her poetry was created. The Dickinson Room, in which these artifacts are displayed,
does not recreate any particular room in the Homestead or The Evergreens, although
many of the objects were displayed at one time in "The Emily Room" at The
Evergreens. That room was created by Martha Dickinson Bianchi, the poet's niece, to
memorialize Emily Dickinson.
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Series:
I. Ceramics
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A. Blue-and-white earthenware
Emily Norcross Dickinson, Emily
Dickinson's mother, owned this blue-and-white printed earthenware. She probably
acquired it in preparation for her marriage to Edward Dickinson in May 1828. It was
most likely within the "crate of crockery" discussed in a letter from Edward to Emily
Norcross (1828 March 8) regarding transportation of her belongings from Monson,
Massachusetts to Amherst. Dark blue printed tableware graced the sideboard and
table in the dining room at the Homestead in Amherst.
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Sauce tureen with cover; dark blue transfer-printed
earthenware, Shell Border Series with irregular center, maritime subject; one of a pair.
Attributed to Enoch Wood & Sons,
Burslem, Staffordshire, England; circa 1825.
English refined earthenware, cobalt pigment,
lead glaze;
height 15.2 cm., width 19.0 cm., depth 12.7
cm.
![[thumbnail: resource-1]](http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:FHCL.HOUGH:1156232?height=150)
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Sauce tureen with cover; dark blue transfer-printed
earthenware, Shell Border Series with irregular center, maritime subject; one of a pair.
Attributed to Enoch Wood & Sons,
Burslem, Staffordshire, England; circa 1825.
English refined earthenware, cobalt pigment,
lead glaze;
height 15.2 cm, width 19.0 cm., depth 12.7
cm.
![[thumbnail: resource-1]](http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:FHCL.HOUGH:1156233?height=150)
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Sauce boat; dark blue transfer-printed earthenware, Shell
Border Series with irregular center, maritime subject. Attributed to Enoch Wood & Sons,
Burslem, Staffordshire, England; circa 1825.
English refined earthenware, cobalt pigment, lead glaze;
height 11.4 cm., width 18.4 cm., depth 8.8 cm.
![[thumbnail: resource-1]](http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:FHCL.HOUGH:1156234?height=150)
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B. White porcelain
Martha Dickinson Bianchi, Emily Dickinson's niece, listed in an early 20th- century
inventory of her home "the gold and white tea set of Emily Norcross Dickinson" (the
poet's mother). The set was among the items she displayed in "The Emily Room" at
The Evergreens. The porcelain tea set may have been among the items that Emily
Norcross purchased in preparation for her marriage to Edward Dickinson in May of
1828. It was probably the family's best tea set.
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Teapot; white with gilt striping, floral gilding on spout, pattern number "71"
painted in red enamel on underside. England, factory
unknown; circa 1825.
Bone china, gilding;
height 15.2 cm.,
width 26.6 cm., depth 12.7 cm.
![[thumbnail: resource-1]](http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:FHCL.HOUGH:1156243?height=150)
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Sugar bowl with cover; white with gilt decoration, pattern
number "71" painted in red enamel on underside. England, factory unknown; circa 1825.
Bone china, gilding;
height
13.9 cm., width 15.2 cm., depth 10.1 cm.
![[thumbnail: resource-1]](http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:FHCL.HOUGH:1156245?height=150)
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Creamer; white with gilt decoration, pattern number "71"
painted in red enamel on underside. England, factory
unknown; circa 1825.
English bone china, gilding;
height 11.4
cm., width 13.9 cm., depth 7.6 cm.
![[thumbnail: resource-1]](http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:FHCL.HOUGH:1156244?height=150)
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Tea cups and saucers (three); white with gilt decoration;
London shape; pattern number "71" painted in red enamel on underside. England, factory unknown; circa 1825.
English bone china, gilding;
cups: height 5.7 cm., diameter 9.5 cm.; saucers: height
2.5 cm., diameter 15.2 cm.
Acquisition Information: One cup and saucer: *74Z-2. Bequest of Mrs.
Theodora Ward; received: 1974 October.
The "London shape," characteristic of those made in the
early decades of the nineteenth century, refers to the flaring sides with sharply undercut
bases on the cups and the steep sides and flat bases on the saucers.
![[thumbnail: resource-1]](http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:FHCL.HOUGH:1156240?height=150)
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Coffee cups and saucers (two); white with gilt decoration;
London shape; pattern number "71" painted in red enamel on underside. England, factory unknown; circa 1825.
English bone china, gilding;
cups: height 6.3 cm., diameter 7.6 cm.; saucers: height
2.5 cm., diameter 14.6 cm.
The
"London shape," characteristic of those made in the early decades of the nineteenth
century, refers to the flaring sides with sharply undercut bases on the cups and the
steep sides and flat bases on the saucers.
![[thumbnail: resource-1]](http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:FHCL.HOUGH:1156241?height=150)
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Plate; white porcelain with two gilt bands, one at outer edge,
and one at center. France, possibly Limoge; circa 1860.
Porcelain, gilding;
height
2.5 cm., diameter 19.6 cm.
Acquisition Information:
*74Z-2. Bequest of Mrs. Theodora Ward; received: 1974 October.
French porcelain china decorated with gold bands, sometimes called "wedding
band china," was popular from about 1850 to 1880. This plate is from a set that was
owned by Emily Dickinson's brother, Austin, and his wife Susan. Their daughter,
Martha, recalled in her unpublished autobiography that at the many elaborate supper
parties hosted by her mother, the dining room table was often covered with the family's
best gilt-edged plates.
![[thumbnail: resource-1]](http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:FHCL.HOUGH:1156242?height=150)
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Epergne or compote; reticulated bowl, pedestal base, bowl
and base held together with screw and wing nut. Maker unknown; circa 1840.
Porcelain;
height 21.5 cm., diameter 24.1 cm.
Martha Dickinson Bianchi, Emily Dickinson's niece, listed in an
early 20th-century inventory of her home, "two white epergnes from the Mansion,"
referring to the Homestead. The epergnes were among the items Martha displayed in
"The Emily Room" at The Evergreens.
Used for holding fruit, reticulated
bowls were not only decorative but also allowed air to circulate around fresh fruit or
warm roasted chestnuts.
![[thumbnail: resource-1]](http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:FHCL.HOUGH:1156246?height=150)
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Epergne or compote; pierced decoration, three "paw" feet;
factory mark "131" etched on underside. Maker unknown; circa 1840.
Porcelain;
height 12.7 cm., diameter 22.8 cm.
![[thumbnail: resource-1]](http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:FHCL.HOUGH:1156247?height=150)
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Series:
II. Furniture
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Desk and bookcase; three drawers below three shelves,
glass doors with latticework panes; fold-out writing shelf with three inkwell
compartments at upper right, writing surface covered in red baize and supported by two
pull-out slides; tapered, reeded legs; broken-scroll pediment with brass ball finials; fan
inlay, stringing, crossbanding, oval patera at center of pediment. American, unknown
maker; circa 1820.
Mahogany and mahogany veneer;
height 186.6 cm., width 96.5 cm., depth 48.2 cm.
This desk and bookcase came from the home of Emily
Dickinson. The piece has traditionally been associated with her father, Edward
Dickinson, although the somewhat diminutive scale of the pieces suggests that it may
have been made as a lady's desk and bookcase. Such pieces were often displayed in
parlors or libraries to demonstrate the education and status of the owners.
![[thumbnail: resource-1]](http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:FHCL.HOUGH:1156267?height=150)
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Lamp; brass font and stem; fluted stem rests on a square
marble plinth; may originally have been a solar lamp, updated for use with kerosene,
and electrified in the 20th century; replaced pink, floral globe; missing burner and clear
glass chimney. Maker unknown, possibly Starr, Fellows and Company,
New York; circa 1856.
Brass, bronze, glass;
height 40.0 cm. (without shade), height 59.6 cm. (with
shade), base width 13.9 cm., base depth 13.9 cm.
The awkward proportions of this lamp are due to the addition of a
socket when the lamp was electrified, making the lamp taller than it should be. The
original globe (which was broken when the lamp was moved to Harvard) was likely cut
and etched blown glass. A clear chimney would have helped deliver smoke and fumes
up through the shade. The lamp may have been used in the parlor or hall of the Edward
Dickinson home.
![[thumbnail: resource-1]](http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:FHCL.HOUGH:1156258?height=150)
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Series:
III. Glass
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Tumbler; diamond diaper taper, colorless, blown molded in 3-part mold of
geometric design: bands of vertical flutes above horizontal rings and diamond
diapering, horizontal ring above vertical flutes around base; pontil mark. New England, probably Boston and
Sandwich Glass Company; circa 1825-1835.
Colorless flint glass;
height 14.6 cm., diameter 12.0 cm.
According to family history, this drinking vessel belonged to
Emily Dickinson's grandfather, Samuel Fowler Dickinson. Collectors sometimes call
tumblers of this size and shape "flip" (a beer and rum concoction) glasses, though
period records consistently use the term "tumbler" for this type of drinking vessel
regardless of capacity or intended use. Tumblers were among the most common glass
drinking vessels in early America and were used for a variety of beverages including
beer, cider, and ale.
![[thumbnail: resource-1]](http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:FHCL.HOUGH:1156248?height=150)
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Sand glass; wooden frame with printed image of the "Burns
Monument" on the top, printed text "Made Of Wood Grown On The Banks Of The
Doon" on the base. Scotland; circa 1860.
Wood, glass, red sand;
height 8.2 cm., diameter: 4.4 cm.
Acquisition Information:
*80Z-1. Gift of Mary Hampson; received: 1980 June.
This souvenir sand glass may have been given to
Emily Dickinson as a gift. The text on the base indicates that the wood came from the
banks of the Doon River, near the Robert Burns Monument in Alloway, Scotland.
![[thumbnail: resource-1]](http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:FHCL.HOUGH:1156291?height=150)
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![[thumbnail: resource-1]](http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:FHCL.HOUGH:1156292?height=150)
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![[thumbnail: resource-1]](http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:FHCL.HOUGH:1156293?height=150)
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Series:
IV. Jewelry
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Timepiece with key in original box; gold-cased watch, floral
engraved and enameled dial, floral engraved watch key, leather box with gold tooling. Switzerland, probably Geneva; circa 1840.
Gold case, brass and steel mechanism, leather box;
watch: diameter 4.4 cm., box: length 8.6 cm., width 6.3 cm.
This gold timepiece belonged to
Edward Dickinson, Emily Dickinson's father. The reverse of the leather box for the
watch bears his signature and the inscription "Amherst, Masstts." Dickinson may have
worn the watch on a long chain looped around his neck and draped over his chest to
serve as a watch holder. The watch might have been placed in a vest pocket for added
protection.
![[thumbnail: resource-1]](http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:FHCL.HOUGH:1156287?height=150)
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![[thumbnail: resource-1]](http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:FHCL.HOUGH:1156288?height=150)
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![[thumbnail: resource-1]](http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:FHCL.HOUGH:1156289?height=150)
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![[thumbnail: resource-1]](http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:FHCL.HOUGH:1156290?height=150)
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Bracelet: adjustable woven bracelet with copper clasp and
ornament, "Little Phil" engraved on underside of copper clasp, gold braid fringe. Maker
unknown; circa 1880.
Gold, copper;
length: 8.8 cm., depth 5.7
cm.
Bracelets similar to this
example were advertised in the 1883 catalogue of wholesale jewelers March & Bigney
of Attleboro, Massachusetts. The bracelet was among the Dickinson family jewelry, but
it is unknown who "Little Phil" was.
![[thumbnail: resource-1]](http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:FHCL.HOUGH:1156297?height=150)
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Jewelry box; red velvet in oval shape with satin lining, interior
has stamped maker's mark "A. Simon/Juwelier/Carlsbad," brass closure. A. Simon, Jeweler, Carlsbad, Czech
Republic (formerly Bohemia); circa 1900.
Pasteboard,
velvet, satin, brass;
length 10.5 cm., width 8 cm.,
height.3 cm.
This jewelry box was
among the Dickinson family belongings. Emily Dickinson's niece, Martha Dickinson
Bianchi, or sister-in-law Susan Gilbert Dickinson, may have purchased it during their
European travels in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
![[thumbnail: resource-1]](http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:FHCL.HOUGH:1156303?height=150)
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![[thumbnail: resource-1]](http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:FHCL.HOUGH:1156304?height=150)
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Series:
VI. Silver and silver plate
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Candlesticks (pair); sterling, candle cup in form of Corinthian
capital; removable shaped bobeche with beaded edge; shaft of fluted columns;
stepped, square base with beaded edging; touchmark on base. Gorham
Company,
Providence, Rhode Island; sold by Shreve Crump & Low Co.,
Boston;
circa 1870.
Sterling silver;
height 16.5 cm., base
width 8.6 cm, base depth 8.6 cm.
Emily Dickinson's niece, Martha Dickinson Bianchi, included these silver
candlesticks in an early 20th-century inventory of "The Emily Room" at The Evergreens.
The candlesticks were on display with other examples of Dickinson family silver.
![[thumbnail: resource-1]](http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:FHCL.HOUGH:1156253?height=150)
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Teaspoons (two); fiddle-pattern handle with basket of flowers
embossed design; engraved "E.D." in script; unmarked. John J. Low;
Lows, Ball & Company,
Boston, Massachusetts; circa 1820-1846.
Coin silver;
length: 15.8 cm., bowl width 3.1 cm.
These teaspoons belonged to Emily Dickinson.
The spoons were
stamped with a slightly narrower basket image for a slightly narrower spoon handle and
the imagery is less crisp than that on the Emily Norcross Dickinson spoons. Such
ornament was stamped onto handles using steel dies. It is likely that Emily Dickinson's
spoons were given to her in the early 1840s to match the pattern of her mother's
spoons.
![[thumbnail: resource-1]](http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:FHCL.HOUGH:1156255?height=150)
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